Woman may have been oldest Mauian

November 29, 2012

Damiana Bareng Juan, who could have been Maui's oldest living person at 107 years old, died earlier this month, possibly from pneumonia, a family member said Tuesday.

"It was very peaceful," said Juan's daughter, Teresita "Tessie" Martin, of her mother's death. "I think it was time for her."

Martin said her mother, who lived with her in Kahului, was suffering from a bad cold. But when she asked her mom, "Nana, how you feel?" her mother replied, "I'm OK."

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DAMIANA BARENG JUANDied Nov. 8 at home

"I'm thankful she never really suffered," Martin said.

Juan died on Nov. 8 at her home. She was born on Sept. 22, 1905, in Laoag, the Philippines.

After her husband died in 1947 in the Philippines, Juan took care of her four children by washing people's clothes. She was also a midwife.

In 1975, Juan, who was 70 at the time, moved to Maui to be with her children.

In an interview with The Maui News in September, Juan credited her long life to her belief in God and her Catholic faith.

"She had a good life," Martin said. "Beginning part was suffering; (but) I think she had her reward; the reward of living her life, reaching 107 years old with her children. I'm really thankful God gave her this long life. I think she enjoyed it. She really enjoyed it with us and with her grandchildren."